Britannica
Sources used in this answer
What kinds of paintings did Edgar Degas display at the first Impressionist exhibition in 1874?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Edgar Degas
Self-Portrait, oil on paper by Edgar Degas, c. 1855â56; in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
At the first Impressionist exhibition in 1874, Edgar Degas displayed works that reflected his signature repertoire, which focused on scenes of Parisian life. Specifically, he exhibited paintings featuring:
- Dancers: Scenes depicting the world of ballet and rehearsal, which he had been developing throughout the early 1870s.1
- Horse races: Paintings capturing French racing events, a subject he had explored since the 1860s.21
- Women ironing: Depictions of urban labor that highlighted his interest in contemporary social themes.1
Degas, who was a leading organizer of the event, referred to the exhibition as a "salon of Realists." Unlike some of his peers who focused on landscapes or rural toil, Degas specialized in enigmatic, often startling scenes of Parisian entertainment and daily life, utilizing radical perspectives to capture the atmosphere of a modern, mobile society.13